Ian from Sydney

Ian yes we did have a 'bit' of rain!. 2' or 5cm in about 2 hours. I live on a hill and I had a veritable river running from the top of the back yard through the property. This morning has dawned bright and sunny with blue skies, however due to the dampness it is also quite muggy. I had forgotten what it smells like outside after a good downpour though - everything is washed and fresh with all the dust dampened or gone.

Hey Ian - I took you to page 3!

Col - yay!!!

2 Jan: Happy New Year Ian and family.
It sounds like we are going to have lots more of your lovely photos to view now when you get cracking on the new camera. It sounds great and I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

Sorry to hear you had a rather scary start to the new year Ian. Here's hoping that you've already experienced the worst that the year has in store for you.

Judy, thanks for your concern. Yes it was a bit scary but I've had it before. What I didn't enjoy though, was New Years Eve in the emergency department at the local hospital. It was chaos. I was really happy when they decided to transfer me to the Coronary Care Unit which was peaceful and quiet - as you might expect.

in a nutshell, Scottish- born, have lived in France for the last 20 years, working as an English teacher. Hope you've fully recovered from your scare! Take care.

Hi Ian. What a beautiful picture on your page. Would you mind if a downloaded it to my computer? Heard you had some problems over the new year. Is everything okay? My thoughts are with you!

Just went through your photo stream. Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

where are your ancestors from in Scotland Ian?

Greg, feel free to use it as you wish - it is one of my favourites and I use it for my wallpaper.
Yes, I spent New Years Eve in hospital, which is not my ideal way of spending the evening. I had some ticker problems that will require the attention of my cardiologist when he returns from holidays. Thank you for your thoughts, they are appreciated - I'm still warm and vertical and that is all I can ask for the moment.

Wed 3 Jan: Hello Ian, I've just been looking at your latest photos, you sure have some beauties among them.

Ian. Thank you!

Soory to hear of your scare. I have to go for stress tests at the Cardiology Unit in the next few weeks as my doctor has expressed some concerns as well. Hopefully we'll both find it was just stress related.

Thank you for sharing your pictures, they are beautiful.
Hope you are now feeling better? Happy New Year.

Hi Ian. Didn't realize you went under the knife. You seem to have a positive outlook, so that's good. I posted a picture on my page especially for you. Enjoy!

Thanks for the link to the Oops Site. I've seen some of these pictures before, but most that I've looked at so far were new to me, and I still haven't looked at them all. I will be passing this link to a few friends here, as they will get as much of a chuckle out of it as I have so far!

Hi Ian...just looked at your flickr photos. You have some awesome photos there. Thanks for sharing.

Hope your ticker problems are not serious. Keep us posted.

Hi Ian...curiosity about the grandstand compelled me to visit your flickr photos..they're fabulous. Congratulations, you've captured sights and light brilliantly.. and now I know where the grandstand is located. Thanks for sharing your photos.

em, it is my pleasure.

Hi Ian. Had a great meet up with Hugh and Chris yesterday (9/1/07), very nice guys. Back to work next week after spending the weekend in Sydney to go see Walking With Dinosaurs with eldest grandson.

Ian, thanks for your kind words on the Health page. I just looked through your photos. You have a great eye.

Ian
hope you are feeling back to your dangerous best after your scare at New Year.
thank you for sharing your health issues to encourage the rest of us to stay motivated on our health kick.
cheers
water of course

Ian great photos. A few from Dubbo. Hope you are feeling better now.

Maureen, thank you. There is one more photo of Dubbo in the system but I'm not sure it will be accepted - it is of the gallows in your local jail!

I have left a few tips on the Health and Fitness site and I think it is now time to reveal my credentials.

In the past six months I have lost 10kg (23lbs) in weight and have achieved fitness levels that I didn’t believe were possible a year ago. My wife and I have adopted healthy eating practices and are enjoying it. We exercise three times a week in a programme called ‘Heart Moves’, which is sponsored by the National Heart Foundation. She has lost 15kg (34.5lb).

Before I start, I am not a nutritionist nor do I have any medical qualifications, but I have learnt over the years in the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ what works and what doesn’t. It may or may not work for you and I suggest you get advice from qualified experts, but here goes.

Twenty years ago I was a heart attack looking for somewhere to happen – overweight, smoking, no exercise, entertaining and being entertained and in a high stress job. So inevitably, it happened.

But I didn’t learn much from that event. I resumed smoking, moped around the house and paid little attention to any form of diet or exercise regime. After a few years I eventually gave up smoking for good with the aid of a programme called ‘SmokEnders’. It was a brilliantly conceived programme which treated smoking as a complex physiological, psychological and social problem – which it is – and HELPED us to break the habit.

The only other significant event was a couple of consultations with a nutritionalist following a diabetes scare and a change in my outlook towards food. (I still loooove chocolate in all its forms, but we don’t keep any in the house).

But nothing much else happened until about this time last year I couldn’t walk without a walking stick, I was breathless after climbing just a couple of stairs and I felt that my life was slipping away while I watched. So in February 2006, I had ‘open heart’ surgery to correct a leaky valve and to do a bypass.

My rehabilitation was a slow process starting from two, ten minute walks each day and building up by an extra five minutes a week to eventually one 40 minute walk each day. Then I took up a Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme at the local hospital, but that only lasted six weeks – what now? So I joined the ‘Heart Moves’ programme at the local gym and, as they say in the classics, the rest is history.

I have learnt a lot which might be useful to anyone who cares to listen and I will continue to pass on my ‘tips’ until someone tells/asks me to stop.

You mightn't have a 'SmokEnders' or a 'Heart Moves' near you, but there are plenty of similar programmes around - ask your local doctor for his/her advice.

Ian, thanks for the photos on your flickr site - really enjoyed looking at them

Ian, Just wanted to thank you for sharing your tips. We have similar 'abuse of self' experiences, except mine is a pulmonary condition. Since my second birth,March 28, 95, I have learned to respect and appreciate life in a whole new way. I just want to let you know that even so, after a while, I stopped working as hard as I had, but continued my exercises at least 3 times weekly. My meds(steriods) would blow me up and increase my appetite, and I added weight again. Just as some smokers start smoking again after many years, complacency about feeling so much better can cause one to let up just a little bit, particularly when you get as old as I. I say all of this simply to say, stay true to your activities and beware any level of complacency in your work out and food intake. Peace, and like you, I hope I haven't spoken out of turn.

Ian

I was wondering if your cardiologist has returned from leave yet and if you've managed to see him. If so - did he have all good news for you .......and no bad?

If not - when will you get to see him (or her) do you think?

Thank you,Ian, for sharing your experiences with us. All too often folk live with the 'It won't happen to me' attitude. Only coming to their senses when they hear a story like yours OR suffer an experience like yours.
If your telling your story makes one person stop, think and action a change in an unhealthy lifestyle that will be wonderful.
Be Happy and be healthy in 2007

Ian - thank you. With everything you've been through...and survived...we should dub you 'the Oracle' - you have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to pass on.

Col, I saw my cardiologist last Monday. He was unable to diagnose the cause of my problem so he put me on amiodorone to settle my heart rhythms and warfarin, an anti-clotting agent ('rat poison') in case the amiodorone didn't work. It is no big deal really but I have to be a little careful with the warfarin 'cos I bleed easily and it involves regular blood tests to check the levels in my blood. Apart from that I feel great.

Gosh Ian! Hope you get better real soon!

Thanks for your kind words...they do an old girl good.
I do not sell my photos. Have been thinking about it, perhaps put some together for the next Coconut Grove Art Festival...just a thought.
Even if I don't sell anything; the immense pleasure of knowing I might make someone's day a bit brighter by enjoying one of my photos, or two, means the world to me.

Hello Ian. I'm cruising around the site, and thought I would stop in to say hello. I hope you continue to improve. You're a trooper.

Tues 16 Jan: Hello Ian
Have you got your new camera yet?
I'm sorry I haven't been to visit your page much lately but have been somewhat occupied with family.
I hope you're feeling well now, please let me know how everything is going, either on my page or by e'mail.

Thanks Ian, for your compliment about the sunset. My daughter was driving and I asked her to stop because the sun was just about down, and she stopped almost in front of the power pole. I had to lean out of the car window to try to miss it, but didn't quite manage it.

Hi Ian, be careful with the rat poison in your system!

20/1/07 Hi Ian,
I like the new photo of the cottage. Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Keep up the good work.

hey Ian..havent been here before..somehow missed..not any particular reason..well 'a heart attack looking for somewhere to happen – overweight, smoking, no exercise, entertaining and being entertained and in a high stress job',Ian heart attacks happen even w/o all these things!!for instant my dad who was a man of principles and the so called clean good habits fell a victim of mio cardial infraction and survived it!!ten years later he died of crf..
and Ian i am not here to discourage ppl ,but just here to say that you neednt have to feel guilty abt the lifestyle you have..as long as you are inclined to change it for better..
and your tips for a better fitter morrow is welcome..
cheers

Ian, I loved your reply comment about the e'mail.

22/1/07